COLEOPTERA. 453 



The legs of the other Clavicornes are inserted at an equal distance 

 from each other. Those in which these organs are not contractile, 

 and the tarsi at most can only be flexed on the tibias, whose mandi- 

 bles are most commonly salient and flattened or not thick, and whose 

 prsesternum is never dilated anteriorly, will constitute five other 

 tribes. 



In the third tribe of this family, that of the Silphales, we find five 

 distinct joints in all the tarsi, and the mandibles terminating in an 

 entire jDoint without emargination or fissure*. The antennse termi- 

 nate in a club that is most commonly perfoliaceoiis and consisting of 

 from four to five joints. The internal side of the maxillae, in most 

 of them, is furnislied with a horny tooth. The anterior tarsi are fre- 

 quently dilated, at least in the males. The exterior margin of the 

 elytra of the greater number is marked by a groove with a well raised 

 border. 



This tribe is composed of the genus 



SiLPHAj Li7i. — Peltis, Geoff, 



Here the antennae are suddenly terminated by a short and solid club, 

 formed by the four last joints ; the second is larger than tlie following 

 ones. The body is almost square, the elytra are truncated, the tibiae 

 dentated, the tarsi simple, and the mandibles bidentated on the inner 

 side; the last joint of the maxillary palpi is as long as the two pre- 

 ceding ones taken together. There is a horny tooth on the inner 

 side of the maxillye. So closely do these Insects resemble the His- 

 teroides, that Fabricius confoimded them. Such are those which 

 form the 



Sph.erites, Dufts. — Sarapus, Fisch. — Hister, Fab. — Nitidula, 

 Gyllen f . 



Here, the antennae terminate in a perfoliaceous club. 



Sometimes the body is oblong, and the head, strangulated poste- 

 riorly, is as wide as the anterior margin of the thorax, or not much 

 narrower; the latter forms a square witli rounded angles; the elytra 

 form a long square, and are suddenly and strongly truncated at their 

 posterior extremity. The posterior thighs, at least in the males, are 

 usually inflated. The last joint of the maxillary palpi is rather more 

 slender than the preceding one, almost cylindrical, somewhat smaller 

 at the end, and obtuse. The anterior tarsi are dilated in the males. 



Payk., lb., XI, 1 ; — H. sulcatvs, X, 8; — the hispidus, Id., XI, 2, appears to be con- 

 generic. The genus Ceutocerus of Germar, Insect. Spec. Nov., T, p. S.5, 1, 2, from 

 the form of the antenua;, legs, &c., would naturally seem to come after the Hisfe- 

 ruichx, but the elytra cover the abdomen aud the mandibles are not salient. I have 

 never seen a specimen of this genus. 



* Dentations, however, are sometimes found on the internal side, as in Spha;rites. 



t Dufts., Faun. Aust., I, p. 203; Hister glahratus, Fab.; Sturm, I, xx; Serapus, 

 Fisch., Mem. of the Soc. of Nat. Hist, of Moscow. 



